There is widespread agreement among business and industry, labor, educators and policy makers that the CTE system must focus on the preparation of students for high skill, high wage, or high demand occupations. After considerable research, it was determined that CTE programs in California should be clustered around 15 industry sectors, reflecting the intersection of California’s economic needs and the educational needs of its K-12, ROP and Adult Education students.
In addition, within each of the 15 sectors are identified two or more career pathways for a total of 58 pathways. The pathways are made up of coherent sequences of rigorous academic and technical courses that allow students to apply academics and develop technical skills in a curricular area. The pathway standards focus on what students actually need to know and be able to do in each career area; they provide specific content needed to guide the development of high-quality, consistent, and relevant career-focused programs. In doing so they ensure that pathways prepare students for both post-secondary education and future careers.
The sectors and pathways are as follows:
Industry Sector
Career Pathways
Agriculture and
Agricultural Business
Natural Resources
Agricultural Mechanics
Agriscience
Animal Science
Forestry and Natural Resources
Ornamental Horticulture
Plant and Soil Science
Arts, Media
Media and Design Arts
and Entertainment
Performing Arts
Production and Managerial Arts
Building Trades
Cabinetmaking and Wood Products
and Construction
Engineering and Heavy Construction
Mechanical Construction
Residential and Commercial Construction
Education, Child
Child Development
Development and
Consumer Services
Family Services
Education
Family and Human Services
Energy and Utilities
Electromechanical Installation and Maintenance
Energy and Environmental Technology
Public Utilities
Residential and Commercial Energy and Utilities
Engineering and
Architectural and Structural Engineering
Design
Computer Hardware, Electrical, and Networking Engineering
INDUSTRY SECTORS & PATHWAYS
There is widespread agreement among business and industry, labor, educators and policy makers that the CTE system must focus on the preparation of students for high skill, high wage, or high demand occupations. After considerable research, it was determined that CTE programs in California should be clustered around 15 industry sectors, reflecting the intersection of California’s economic needs and the educational needs of its K-12, ROP and Adult Education students.
In addition, within each of the 15 sectors are identified two or more career pathways for a total of 58 pathways. The pathways are made up of coherent sequences of rigorous academic and technical courses that allow students to apply academics and develop technical skills in a curricular area. The pathway standards focus on what students actually need to know and be able to do in each career area; they provide specific content needed to guide the development of high-quality, consistent, and relevant career-focused programs. In doing so they ensure that pathways prepare students for both post-secondary education and future careers.
The sectors and pathways are as follows: